Not stopping to think about it, I raise my fingers, stained red and disjointed and seek out the nearest heart. It pops, like compressing a snail, and I spin, dodging another blade while I crush their heart. Then the next. And the next.
I don’t stop, not until blood runs down my cheeks and I sway on my feet. Samkien is there, catching me as my knees give out and he calls for Kaden.
My husband drops beside me, Baris standing overhead. He’s quite capable with a sword.
“You used too much,” he says, wiping my face.
I shake my head. “Not enough.”
More soldiers come and all three men swing their weapon to keep them away. A flare of light in the distance shoots through the air, Fee blasting Humans back.
“We can’t win like this,” Baris shouts, shoving a man away. “We need to retreat.”
“I’m aware of that, Baris.” Kaden’s shadows spiral out, knocking into men, capturing some into their endless darkness, never to be seen again. “But getting through seems to be the problem.”
“Whatever we decide, we must do it quickly,” Samkien says, twirling to intercept a sword. He parries and punches the Human, kicking him back.
Kaden nods, mind made up. I sway and he holds me against his side. “Stay close. I’ll keep us covered as long as I can. We’ll push our way out.”
Fee blasts another stream of intense heat and runs through the charred remains, pulling along Reid and Mal. Layla is curled into Reid’s arms, eyes closed.
“Is she injured?” I ask, as Kaden shoves a man away.
“She was hit.” He shows us her side. It’s sliced through, and I gasp at the ribbons of flesh. “We have to go.”
“Hold tight.” Kaden’s black eyes look to the sky and his shadows curve around us. They’re forlorn and dark, but I smile as the coolness covers my brow.
Until Baris gasps.
Glancing to him, the battle seems to still as he falls to the ground, hands wet with blood. An arrow penetrates his heart, a trickle of red leaves his mouth, and I watch frozen as he sinks into the dirt.
“No!” I scramble out of Kaden’s hold, crawling to Baris’ side.
The shadows surround us, a shield to the barrage of hits, but I don’t care about that. I just hold my father’s head in my lap.
Fee makes a noise but I don’t look away. My heart pounds, my fingers tremble as I battle back the fear coursing in my veins. I try likeSeti’sHell to control the bleeding. If I can save Reid, I can do it again.
But my energy is weak, my hands shake and I can’t seem to get ahold of the tissue and will it to mend.
Grasping my hand, Baris shakes his head. His swallow is shallow, his words weak as he says, “It’s alright, little one. It’s my time.”
“It’s not,” I argue, fingers digging into his chest. “I just found you.”
How can I lose so much in such a short amount of time? Thea, Oslo, the Hadeon… and now my father? How cruel can the Gods be to take him after I just had the chance to make memories?
“And I will remain with you.”
He inhales, blood oozing from his mouth. He doesn’t have long and I try again. I begEnyoto let me save him, plead withSetinot to take him. I can’t lose someone else—I just can’t.
The soldiers scream, turning their attention from us. Kaden’s blemished hands rubs over my arms, his chin rest on my shoulder. “Look,” he breathes, and forces me to glance away from Baris.
In the distance, swords swing. But they gleam like pale moonlight, not like the black silver of the Dark Fae or the tarnished iron of the Humans. This is someone else.
Colors appear in the crowd—purple, green, and yellow. A startled laugh leaves my lips, tears dropping off my chin.
“On Bel’s balls,” Reid curses, cradling Layla. “Is that the Blackwoods Coven?”
“It’s all the Covens.”
